Integrated Wood Design (MEng) at University of Northern British Columbia

Wood is the world’s most common and sustainable building material.  Known for its aesthetic beauty, durability, and ease of machinability, wood is becoming the leading building material in a new paradigm of sustainable and healthy building practices. Significant renewable wood resources in British Columbia and an international wood culture provide a strong impetus for UNBC, the province, and industrial partners to develop a leading education program centered on sustainable, healthy building practices using wood.

In order to meet the needs of the profession, the Master of Engineering, Integrated Wood Design develops students’ understanding of wood as a versatile and sustainable building component that can be used in applications far beyond what could be achieved using concrete and steel. Students investigate wood at the micro and macro levels and explore the science and art of designing and building wood structures.

The one-year interdisciplinary Master’s program is built on four main pillars:

• Wood Mechanics and Timber Structures: Students gain a deep understanding of wood. Starting with an understanding of the supply chain, students come to appreciate the sustainable nature of wood, its unique structure, its living nature, and its strengths and weaknesses, in relationship to other commonly used building materials.
• Hands-on Experience: The only way to experience wood is to work with it, as it is one of the most complex building materials. Students build small-scale structures to explore the versatility and complexity of wood structures. Community or industry internships may be included.
• Team Work: At the core of successful design teams is the ability to communicate effectively and integrate different points of view. Students undertaking this program are immersed in the science and art of design team work. Multi-disciplinary teams work together throughout the program to build effective communication skills by working with individuals with diverse backgrounds and a wide range of experts such as technical experts, professional engineers, architects, and community members.
• Sustainability: Students study and come to appreciate a range of state-of-the-art sustainable designs and how those designs fit within the broader social and political context of sustainability.